Holy summer movies, Batman!

Are you ready for some thrills? Someone in Hollywood is certainly banking on that fact, because there are an awful lot of horror thrillers coming your way in the next few months. And many of them feature the living dead — so zombie lovers should definitely find something worth watching, including a new film from the zombie master George A. Romero.

A-list actresses, like Jennifer Connelly and Scarlett Johansson, are following in Naomi Watts’ “Ring”-like footsteps with thrillers “Dark Water” and “The Island.” Even Steven Spielberg's latest, “War of the Worlds” seems more like the spawn of “Jaws” than “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

You may also get a strange sense of deja vu from this summer's movies. From TV shows that get the big screen treatment, like “Bewitched” and “The Dukes of Hazzard” to a slew of remakes like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “The Bad News Bears.”  Basically, everything old is new again.

Looking for laughs? The Frat Pack (Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson) may score the biggest laughs of the summer with “The Wedding Crashers.” And “Office Space” creator Mike Judge is back with a new, still untitled project.

No worries, art-house fans. Some great indie films sneak their way in between the blockbusters. Look for Sundance faves “Hustle & Flow” and “Me and You and Everybody We Know.” Also Bill Murray stars in Jim Jarmusch’s “Broken Flowers” and Wong Kar Wai’s latest visual poem is “2046.”

“Batman Begins”

Warner Brothers

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Ken Watanabe, Katie Holmes, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson, Rutger Hauer
Director: Christopher Nolan
Story: After Bruce Wayne’s (Bale) parents are murdered, he travels the world to find ways to fight injustice. He emerges as the Dark Knight of Gotham City: Batman. Caine is on board as Wayne’s faithful servant, Alfred. Murphy plays archvillain The Scarecrow, while Watanabe takes on the role of terrorist Ra’s Al Ghul . Oldman plays Sergeant Jim Gordon.
Buzz: It’s hard not to get excited about this film. Innovative director Nolan (“Memento”) promises to give a dark take on material that has been given short shrift in the past. Add a really great cast, which is classed up with the trio of Caine, Neeson and Freeman, and we could actually get a comic-book film that transcends the genre. Or, it could seriously disappoint (see, “The Hulk” for what happens with an intellectual director takes on this type of material). Hopes are high for this one.
Web site:
http://www2.warnerbros.com/batmanbegins/index.html

“The Perfect Man”

Universal

Starring: Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth, Mike O'Malley, Ben Feldman, Vanessa Lengies, Carson Kressley
Director: Mark Rosman
Story: Holly (Duff) tries to get her mom (Locklear) to stop dating losers by inventing a man based on advice from her friend’s Uncle Ben (Noth). Mom takes the bait but wants this man to be more than mysterious love notes and flowers. Can Holly make him materialize out of thin air?
Buzz: Is it just me, or does this seem like one of those movies where the female stars will be dancing in the living room for no apparent reason? This movie seems more like one you would find on ABC Family than in your local multiplex, but Hilary Duff fans (and their moms) should find something to enjoy here.
Web site:  http://www.theperfectmanmovie.com/

“Me and You and Everyone We Know”

IFC Films

Starring: Ellen Geer, John Hawkes, Brad William Henke, Miranda July, Jordan Potter, Brandon Ratcliff, Jason Rice, Natasha Slayton, Miles Thompson, Najarra Townsend, Carlie Westerman
Director: Miranda July
Story: The story of an Elder Cab driver and artist (July) who falls in love with a shoe salesman (Hawkes), who is the father of two boys, and tentative about romance. Seven-year-old Robby (Ratcliff) is having an internet romance with a stranger, while teenage girls experiment with 14-year-old Peter (Thompson).
Buzz: Roger Ebert called this “the best film” he saw at the Sundance Film Festival this year and Film Threat called it “a breath of fresh air.” It definitely seems like one of those little gems that could end up being a summer sleeper art-house hit. Director July is primarily known for her performance artwork. If you’re a “Deadwood” fan (and you should be), you know Hawkes from his role as Sol Star.
Web site:  http://www.ifcfilms.com/meandyoumovie/

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